Ilsur Metshin about the Kazan campus at the WYF, “It was essential for us to tell about ourselves and spark interest”

Tatarstan was among the five regions most actively involved in the World Youth Festival in Sochi. At the closing ceremony of the event, representatives of the republic were awarded the “Key to the City of the World Youth”. At the executive office meeting, the Mayor of the Tatarstan capital, Ilsur Metshin, thanked everyone who participated in the organisation and work of the Kazan campus, where exhibitions, concerts, master classes and lectures were conducted during the festival.

“It was essential for us to share a grain of national culture, uniqueness of the republic and the city, to tell about ourselves and spark interest. Culture is where acquaintance with the people and the city begins. Our culture is so one-of-a-kind that it will not leave anyone indifferent. And those events that took place in our campus attracted a lot of festival guests,” the mayor said at the executive office meeting.

According to Aliya Zagidullina, chairperson of the Committee for Children and Youth Affairs, more than 500 cups of Tatar tea and 1,000 pieces of chak-chak were sold daily in the Kazan pavilion. The campus hosted workshops on making kalfaks and tyubeteikas (Tatar national hats), izyu (Tatar embroidered decoration), as well as classes on customizing shoppers with Tatar ornaments.

On 3 March, young people celebrated Sabantuy in the campus of the Tatarstan capital. Later on 5 March, “Treasures of Kazan” concert of the masters of art was organised for the guests of the pavilion. People’s Artist of Tatarstan Rustem Asaev, Honored Artists of the Republic Anastasia Makarova, Amir Akhmadishin and others came onto the stage.